The fourth edition of Vascular Surgery, edited by R. B. Rutherford, has been considerably modified and updated since the 1989 edition. There are 68 new chapters, which means that at least 60% of the current volume is either new or different. These additions reflect the dramatic and innovative changes that have taken place in the field of vascular surgery.

It is also true that many practices that appeared promising at the time of the last writing have not proved to be of lasting worth and are no longer emphasized. This is particularly true of lasers and mechanical atherectomy devices. On the other hand, thrombolysis and balloon angioplasty with or without stents continue to play an important role. This latest edition is a fair and representative sample of the practices in place in 1995.

The role of the vascular laboratory in both screening and follow-up receives due emphasis. A more complete